1-Look at the links related to the Himalayas, Glacier National park and Antarctica. FOR EACH, give SPECIFIC examples of how the glaciers in that area are behaving. (9 marks)
Himalayas:
The Himalayas is a mountain range in South Asia which is a home to nine of the ten highest beaks on earth. These mountains have the highest concentration of glaciers from the polar icecaps. Glaciers in this area are growing lusciously because the climate is healthy and durable. In the warmer times when the climate is much warmer the glaciers tend to retreat. The Siahven Glacier is one of the largest glaciers in the world; however, a survey done by the Pakistan Meteorological Department in 2007 revealed that the Saichen glacier has been retreating and melting at a alarming rate. This big glacier is retreating at a rate of 100 meters a year.
Antarctica:
Antarctica is Earth's southern most continent which is the coldest and driest. There has been major concerns for the glaciers in this area because of the climate change. Since the records have been taken the temperature there have risen drastically. Warming till this day continues and is much worse int he summer. It causes the glaciers to melt at an alarming rate and can lead to losing some of its icy glaciers. The change in temperature is resulting in the collapse of several ice shelves. Glaciers are thinning and shrinking around Antarctic Peninsula. The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica, located at the base of the Southern Hemisphere. The high rate of temperature in Antarctica is among the highest seen anywhere on Earth recently!Glacier National Park:
2-Discuss the Social, Environmental, and Economic Impact of Glacial Retreat. (9 marks)
Social Impacts:
1.Since ice will no longer be available for winter sports there a result in a loss of tourism. Less tourists will be wanting to visit an area that has very little ice and snow to do their winter activities. Locals who live near the glaciers would be losing that extra income they made from tourism.
2.With the glacier retreat there are factors of unreliable snowfall which results in there begin less snow for winter sports.
3. People can be displaced from the rising sea levels
Environmental Impacts:
1. Theres a rise in natural disasters when a glacier retreats. For instance avalanches, rock slides and flooding.
2.Melt water is another concern. It makes flooding occur which can be evaporated back in to the air and then contribute to the rising sea water levels when it comes down as rain.
3.Rising sea water has an effect one rosin of the coastal towns!
4.Rivers flow can be altered.
Economic Impact:
1. Tourism plays another role as well in the economic part. There would be a lost in revenue because there are less tourists visiting the snowy mountains.
2.The destruction of land and property due to the natural disasters will be pricey to rebuild.
3.Will need to money to furnish everything back to normal (like rebuilding the city).
Part B) Research the impact that glacial retreat will have on the tourism industry in areas that currently have glaciers. (think about Alaskan cruises, Banff, The swiss alps, etc) *There are a few links below but you may want to look further. (10 marks)
Glaciers play an important role in tourism especially up north. It is an attraction many people love. They may just sit and watch the view or do fun winter activities on the glaciers. For instance people go skiing, tubing or even sledding on mountains. Hundreds and thousands of people go visit the Swiss alps, Alaska and the glacier National park. As the climate gets hotter the glaciers start thinning out and shrinking in size. Which makes it less available for the tourists to go do their winter sports. Shrinking glaciers can lead to a reduction in glacier touring and cruise ship tourism which results in a loss of money. This loss affects the economic part in the city big time. As an example the ice berg lake in Glacier national park make about three billion dollars a year. If the glaciers continue to shrink they would lose a lot of that money. The tourism industry would be destroyed within a blink of an eye. The reduction in size of the glaciers results in less tourists which results in no profits for the locals.
| The Swiss Alps attract thousands of tourists. |
Part C) Discuss the impact that retreating glaciers will/have already had on your country. If you have a country that does not have glaciers specifically in it think about general impacts as a result. (5 marks)
In Indonesia there are tropical glaciers; however, within a couple of years scientist say these glaciers will disappear. Scientist have seen that the glaciers on Puncak, Jaya in Indonesia have melted about 60 percent and believe the 40 percent will be gone within a few years. A local tribe believe the mountain is their god. If the glacier was to be gone they would lose a piece if their soul. They heavily rely on the mountains to live and sustain live. The glacier falls into their cultural activities and normal day living. Many universities students go on hikes and treks on this mountain to view the glacier. If the glacier was to vanish fully this part of Indonesia would lose their hikers. Many of these hikers need a night to stay and food to live. So the locals make money from tourists by providing them food and a night to stay. There would be a huge economic loss to the country if tourists decided to stop coming to the glaciers.
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| Glaciers near Puncak Jaya in Inodenisa |
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